Vancouver Whitecaps FC will be without four of their main players when they take on the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday night in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.
"The ‘Caps will be without the services of new striker Fredy Montero, who stayed in Vancouver to work up his fitness levels, and attacking midfielders Christian Bolaños (knee), Nicolas Mezquida (hip), and Yordy Reyna (foot) on Wednesday," Farhan Devji wrote on Vancouver's website.
Montero will likely debut in Leg 2, according to the Whitecaps.
Meanwhile, Head Coach Jesse Marsch said that he expects all of his players to be available if called upon for Wednesday.
Alex Muyl (facial fractures), Mike Grella (knee scope) and Damien Perrienelle (late start to preseason) will all likely be available for the 18-man roster on Wednesday, according to Marsch.
Both coaches seem acutely aware that the early game has led to a compressed preseason and their players may not be at 100 percent.
“Soccer wise, it might not be the most polished," Whitecaps Head Coach Carl Robinson said. "But the intensity is going to be there, the tackles are going to be there, and we’re going to fight for a good result.”
Marsch echoed those sentiments at Red Bulls media day.
“They’re not all totally fit and totally sharp, so I know it won’t be our best match we’ve ever played,” Marsch said. “I expect our team, in all ways, to go out on Wednesday night and give everything they have."
